Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies. 

AMGA to CMS: Limit MACRA transition, develop MSSP ACO Track 1+

In its comments to CMS on the final Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) rule, the American Medical Group Association asked the agency to limit the transition to new payment tracks to only one year and develop a new two-sided risk model in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

Researchers rushing to copy ACA data before Trump takes office

Groups with data-use agreements with HHS and CMS are scrambling to copy healthcare data and documents in case President-elect Donald Trump’s administration erases it once in office—a fear Trump-aligned groups call “paranoid.”

ACA exchange rules finalized for 2018 as repeal threat looms

CMS hopes to strengthen the risk pool on Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplace for the 2018 plan year, even as insurers remain uncertain about the exchanges with the incoming Congress and President-elect promising to repeal the law.

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5 of the top issues for the healthcare industry in 2017

The annual health issues report from PricewaterhouseCooper’s (PwC) Health Research Institute predicted the coming year will be one of “uncertainty and opportunity” in the industry, both because of the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the continuing transition to value-based care.

Mylan launches generic EpiPen as its sued by 20 states over generics price-fixing

Mylan announced the launch of the authorized generic of its allergic reaction autoinjector treatment, EpiPen. Although the launch fulfilled a promise the pharmaceutical company made months ago, it came only hours after 20 states filed a lawsuit over Mylan’s pricing of other generic drugs. 

ACA replacement—just not repeal—may find Democratic support

Repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be passed with only Republican votes soon after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Replacing the law, however, can’t be done by one party.

White House report defends ACA as ‘historic progress’

A report on the “economic record” of the Obama Administration’s healthcare reforms credited the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for lower uninsured rates, increased access to care and slowed growth in healthcare spending.

HHS Secretary: Healthcare reform must ‘continue to endure’

HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell defended the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the broader efforts of changing healthcare payments, delivery systems and health IT in a Health Affairs blog post.

Around the web

The FTC alleges that pharmacy benefit managers have set up a system where they get rich, while patients are forced to pay rising insulin costs. The agency also called out drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk, saying their own actions have raised serious concerns.

In the post-COVID era, wages for permanent RNs are rising, and wages for travelers are decreasing. A new report tracked these trends and more. 

Two medical device companies have announced a transaction that could shake up the U.S. electrophysiology market. 

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